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BEGUILING HOLLYWOOD

BEGUILING HOLLYWOOD

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“Our office lunches consisted of peanut butter and Jello sandwiches, served with slugs of vodka.” Nicky Haslam

February 2, 2018 by Vickie Lester

The world was interconnected, even before the Internet. Nicky Haslam worked with Diana Vreeland (peanut butter and Jello?), who was a dear friend of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, seen here reading Jack Kerouac’s ON THE ROAD. Just this morning I was walking when I saw a neighbor sitting on his front step, scarf wrapped around his neck, cigarette in one hand, book in another, intently reading the same thing in the first rays of the sun. A book is a gateway […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Cooking, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Film, Friendship, Gastronomy, History, Hollywood, Life, Literature, London, Memoir, New York, Photography, Publishing, Recipes, Story, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: author William Kuhn, cookbook, decorator Nicky Haslam, Diana Vreeland, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jello, Lady Diana Cooper, Nicky Haslam, Reading Jackie, unbound

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Shh! I’m reading.

October 13, 2017 by Vickie Lester

For ten days author William Kuhn and I have been talking about writing, reading, screenplays, books, black and white photography, Los Angeles, the dream factory, and what and who we love. A tall order and today we wrap it all up. But I wanted you, dear readers, to know some of the most astute things I’ve read about reading and writing come from the pen of my friend, and they are in the book above. I’m going to quote now. […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Literature, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Publishing, Story, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: another reason I love L.A., author William Kuhn, book editor, interview, Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Reading Jackie, Susannah Corwin, why I write

6

She lived to be 104 and devoted her life to film…

October 10, 2017 by Vickie Lester

No, not Garbo. Although the woman I’m talking about did edit Camille, and was a pioneer in her field… Today William Kuhn asks me what the biggest misconception is about Hollywood. Find out what I said, and read a behind the scenes story about Margaret Booth. Link at the bottom of the page.   Born in Los Angeles on Jan. 16, 1898, Booth started in films in 1915 as a “patcher” — a film joiner — for Griffith. He gave […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Story, Theater, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: behind the scenes in Hollywood, camille was edited by Margaret Booth, film editor, glamour, Greta Garbo, interview, Irving Thalberg, Margaret Booth, mutiny on the bounty, Susannah Corwin

5

…we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language… Oscar Wilde

October 9, 2017 by Vickie Lester

Author William Kuhn and I both spent some formative years in London. We comprised part of the tide of children in dowdy woolen uniforms that crossed the city every day by tube or bus (or a combination of both) to school. We scratched out essays in fountain pen with consistently ink stained fingers, and probably, if pressed, could remember our Latin declensions. And I won’t get into the Latin version of Jingle Bells, well, I’ll just say it had something […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, London, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Publishing, Story, Theater, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: author William Kuhn, Frances Marion, interview, Latin, literary, Oscar Wilde, over sharing, social media, Susannah Corwin

3

“Have you ever heard of anyone who drank while he worked? You’re thinking of Faulkner. He does sometimes — and I can tell right in the middle of a page when he’s had his first one.” Ernest Hemingway

October 7, 2017 by Vickie Lester

Writers can be quick with the barbed quip. Sometimes they’re cruel to each other. Sometimes they are vicious about who employs them (like a movie studio), or where they live (like Los Angeles). This city has caught a lot of flack from the literary world. William Faulkner, a prolific and talented screenwriter — and by most accounts a sweet gentleman — had some famously rude things to say about the industry, and the place that, for many years, financed his […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Literature, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Story, Theater, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: dream factory, Ernest Hemingway, I used to write screenplays, interview, screenwriter, Susannah Corwin, Vickie Lester, William Faulkner, writer

2

“Hollywood is a strange place if you’re in trouble. Everybody thinks it’s contagious.” Judy Garland

October 6, 2017 by Vickie Lester

Author William Kuhn asked me in an interview (you can read it by clicking here) why I adopted the name Vickie Lester for my digital presence and first novel. Thinking about it today I realized I wanted to add another answer to his question — it was because I admired Judy Garland. The comeback role of Vicki Lester (which I spelled incorrectly all these years) in A Star is Born closely resembled the real Judy. She was a trooper. She had […]

Categories: Advertising, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Literature, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Story, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: #amwriting another novel about Hollywood, A Star is Born starring Judy Garland, interview, Judy Garland, nom de plume, persona, personality, Susannah Corwin, Vickie Lester

17

Oh! Did I say that out loud? Hear me read from my latest novel…

October 5, 2017 by Vickie Lester

Good morning! Marvelous Mr. Kuhn (author, historian, amazing friend), has gotten me to read a page (2 minutes) from my work in progress. While I didn’t have the equipment shown above, I did have my trusty computer and a built-in, albeit tiny, microphone. After assuring me I didn’t sound like Minnie Mouse in a cathedral the reading is posted on his blog today. Won’t you join our conversation? Please give a listen, and leave your thoughts . Click here for […]

Categories: Advertising, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Life, Literature, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Relationships, Short Stories, Story, Theater, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: #amwriting, editing, film, first time, Hollywood, joan crawford on radio, novel, Susannah Corwin reads you a story, USC

14

”Careful grooming may take twenty years off a woman’s age, but you can’t fool a flight of stairs.” Marlene Dietrich

October 4, 2017 by Vickie Lester

The heroine of my new Hollywood novel is a daring young soul, and this morning one of my favorite authors asks moi, someone who is 7 years older than Gloria Swanson was when she made Sunset Blvd. if bravado is possible past 50. To continue along with our conversation click here, s’il vous plait.

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Life, Literature, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Story, Theater, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: #amwriting another novel about Hollywood, aging in Hollywood, bravado, daring, femme fatale, Gloria Swanson, interview, Marlene Dietrich, Susannah Corwin, Vickie Lester

11

There are all kinds of soul mates and muses in the world…

October 3, 2017 by Vickie Lester

And this is what happens when you CLICK in Boston: We discovered that we’re both writers. We also discovered shared enthusiasms: England, Oscar Wilde, manners, glamor, noir atmosphere, architecture and art photography… William Kuhn, author and historian, has interviewed yours truly! It was fascinating, fun, and if I may say so, inspiring. He got me out of my slump and set me back on the writing road. Today the introduction is up on his site. There will be 9 questions […]

Categories: Advertising, Art, Blogging, Books, Culture, Design, Entertainment, fashion, Fiction, Film, Friendship, History, Hollywood, Literature, London, Los Angeles, Memoir, Movies, Photography, Story, Truth & Rumors, Uncategorized, Writing • Tags: #amwriting, author William Kuhn, interview, Leslie Howard photographed by Edward Steichen, Pygmalion, roman à clef, Susannah Corwin, Vickie Lester

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Solar sneezing — when you walk just before dawn, and as soon as the sun beams down and hits your nose — kerchoo! I’ve learned to bring tissues. Sleeves will only get you so far. . . . . . Time for a #sunnyday cup of #coffee. . #livethelittlethings #beautyofstillmoments #goodmorning #decor #door #heart #outforawalk #pursuepretty #postitfortheaesthetic #thatsdarling #architecture #thehappynow #gooutside #Conquer_LA #LAStory #LostInLA #MyDayInLA #elegance #writersofinstagram #bookstagram #author #literature #lovebooks #goodreads #socal #story.
He said, “Look at the sunset,” and I glanced up to see the light had turned luminous coral in the sky, so I ran up the stairs and climbed out on the roof for an unfiltered #LA #sunset. . . . . . #goodnight #love #gooutside #pursuepretty #exploretocreate #artofvisuals #palms #MyDayInLA #clouds #bluesky #naturephotography #citylife #LAStory #silhouette #glowing #hollywood #light #thehappynow #discoverearth #writersofinstagram
There are some #words that just set me off, like effulgent. Which is what this image is, #radiant with #light. And the feeling it captures, which is joyful because shortly after I snapped it I saw a very little boy, maybe 18 months old, dressed in a onesie and tennis shoes out waddling along with his father, when he heard a dog bark across the street. The pre-verbal little one broke into a beaming smile then wagged his head and lolled his tongue out and Papa said, “That’s right! It’s a puppy.” Such a moment makes a day worthwhile. And now I’ll get back to my griping — effulgent — a grating word for something glorious. Don’t even get me started on copious. . . . . . #sweet #friday #california #bungalow #architecture #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #amwriting #outforawalk #hollywood #postitfortheaesthetic #thatsdarling #lastory #writersofinstagram #author #literature #lovebooks #socal #story #beautyofstillmoments #home #pursuepretty #agameoftones #artofvisuals #gooutside
How my morning got a #French twist — stopped by my favorite @cafemontrose and found Mme. Pam herself putting a new #sparkle on the #design, and the food? Merveilleux, as alway! It’s #wine #wednesday at the #cafe. Drop in and raise a #glass in #congratulations. Or, if you’re like me, bite into a #strawberry #pastry and revel in #spring. . . . . . #mirror #friends #reflection #portrait #restauranteur #cafe #neighborhood #Paris in #socal #delicious #coffee #bakery #breakfast #lunch #local #bijoux #bistro
Once upon a time I had an astronomy professor who would explain the quality of light and celestial motion in a rrrrolling Germanic accent. He would tell us all about Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), an astronomer — except he said Tycho Brrrrhhh-hay — who besides being a brilliant and precise observer of the heavens before the invention of the telescope, had a few quirks. At university he fought in a duel and thereafter wore a brass nose. He was considered superstitious and in his native country, Denmark, they refer to “Tycho Brahe days,” meaning a whole slew of inauspicious days scattered throughout the calendar. In April there are seven such days. And, not one of them is the 13th. Wishing you a floral Friday, with ❤️. . . . . . #rose #love #petals #blossom #flowers #history #stars #livethelittlethings #lightandshadow #color #story #friday #fridaymood #superb_flowers #bouquet #exploretocreate #art #nature_perfection #chiascuro #jardin #garden #garten #flores #fingerscrossed #goodluck #visualsoflife #MyDayInLA #amwriting
Our heroine’s romantic fantasy of living in a turret fizzled as soon as she lugged her groceries up the stairs... . Life in #Hollywood, as seen from a babysitter turned movie mogul’s eyes. Just a taste on the blog today. Link in the profile. . #goodmorning #sunday #livethelittlethings #beautyofstillmoments #artofvisuals #design #garden #homedecor #outforawalk #pursuepretty #postitfortheaesthetic #thatsdarling #agameoftones #thehappynow #gooutside #wasthatacastle #LAStory #LostInLA #MyDayInLA #elegance #writersofinstagram #bookstagram #author #literature #lovebooks #goodreads #socal #story.
When you’re writing, and the words come to you in wonderful waves, and you feel like you’re floating just inches above the floor... . #imagine that — . #amwriting another #hollywood #novel.. . And now it’s time for #tea. . #LAStory #LostInLA #MyDayInLA #elegance #style #color #agameoftones #spring #flashesofdelight #flightsoffancy #home #losangeles #artofvisuals #book #writersofinstagram #bookstagram #filmindustry #author #love #literature #lovebooks #goodreads #socal #story
A shout-out to the saintly ladies of Hill Street, who guide us through jury selection with patience, kindness, a bit of wit, and the resolve of the upright. I reported for jury duty the other day and walked into the assembly room as a judge was invoking the words of Martin Luther King, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I like to remember that, especially now. This is the view from Grand Park, past the superior courts, with City Hall smack-dab in the center. . . . . . #gooutside #cityscape #exploretocreate #think #urban #palms #perspective #architecture #postitfortheaesthetic #dtla #beautyofstillmoments #artofvisuals #agameoftones #thehappynow #Conquer_LA #LAStory #LostInLA #MyDayInLA #elegance #writersofinstagram #bookstagram #author #literature #lovebooks #goodreads #socal #story #itsinhiskissbyvickielester

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Recent Posts

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  • Where a lack of punctuation can lead…
  • “It was my Uncle George who discovered that alcohol was a food well in advance of modern medical thought.” P.G. Wodehouse

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